Melville Winery

Among several wineries in California, the Melville does its best to stand out with its Mediterranean-style and fine wines. The winery is located in the Western Santa Ynez Valley and the onsite tasting room is open everyday from 11 AM until 4 PM. The winery offers visitors a picnic area where guests can enjoy the wines and a lunch under the California sunshine. Larger groups can visit the winery with a reservation for a tasting. The two-story winery is modeled after a Mediterranean villa, surrounded by lavender bushes, oak, sycamore, and polar trees, and the vineyards. The tasting room features French doors that overlook the garden and courtyard outside of the winery. The winery was opened in 1989 by Ron Melville. The original wines included a Merlot, a Chardonnay, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. By 1996, the selection expanded to include Pinot Noir and another Chardonnay. Like other wineries in the area, the philosophy of wine-making was based on a blend of terroir and farming techniques. The soil is believed to affect the quality of the grapes and therefore, the wine. The winery has nearly 140-acres planted with vines, as well as 100 acres in Cat Canyon. The grapes grown at the winery are supplied to a variety of wineries in the area including Bonaccorsi Wine Company, Brewer-Clifton, Jaffurs Wine Cellars, Ojai Vineyards, and the Samsara Wine Co.